In 2021–2023, Provo moved $19.7 million of its pandemic aid into a new water plant

Provo received $33.88 million from the federal American Rescue Plan Act in two equal payments of $16.94 million, on June 17, 2021, and June 27, 2022, according to the city's fiscal 2023 annual financial report. ^[1]

By June 30, 2023, the council had appropriated all of it and transferred it out of the general fund. The report says $8.58 million had been spent by that date. ^[1]

Where it went

Fiscal 2023 budget changes listed $19.72 million in federal relief money for the culinary water treatment plant, $5.5 million for the regional sports park, $3 million for the wastewater treatment plant, $3 million for demolition, abatement or redevelopment incentives at the old City Center, $1.5 million for Fire Station 1 and $57,635 for water conservation. ^[1]

The general fund's transfers to the water fund that year totaled $19,715,106, the city's fiscal 2027 budget shows. ^[2]

The fiscal 2023 report attributes most of that year's $35.5 million drop in the general fund balance, to $38.1 million, to the use or transfer of the relief money. ^[1]

The projects since

At a December 2025 council meeting, the finance director said the 100-acre Epic Sports Park opened Sept. 21, 2024, a new fire station next to City Hall was finished in December 2024, the first phase of the new wastewater plant was finished in April 2025 and a 30-million-gallon-a-day water treatment plant was under construction. ^[3]

The fiscal 2027 budget says the new drinking water plant will open in January 2027 and adds 4.5 positions and $785,000 for chemicals and utilities to run it. ^[2]

Provo's fiscal 2025 single audit, filed with the Federal Audit Clearinghouse, lists $15.37 million of federal relief fund spending that year across two entries and no findings. ^[4]